Chess Puzzle #0wrIt — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 438 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rook c8; pawns b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen b5→a4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen a4→d1).
  3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/1p2p2p/1Q6/q7/8/5PPP/6K1 w - - 0 30

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.